Kalanchoe plant named ‘Rose African’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Rose African’, characterized by its numerous white and pink bi-colored flowers; upright and vigorous plant habit; dark green dissected leaves; and excellent postproduction longevity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe laciniata×Kalanchoeblossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Rose African’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new interspecific Kalanochoe cultivars withinteresting flower colors and good postproduction longevity.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross made by the Inventor of anunidentified Kalanchoe laciniata seedling selection as the female, orseed, parent with the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Mie, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Rose African wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Hinnerup,Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by terminal cuttings taken atHinnerup, Denmark, by the Inventor, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalachoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Rose African has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Rose African’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Rose African’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Numerous white and pink bi-colored flowers.

2. Upright and vigorous plant habit.

3. Dark green dissected leaves.

4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of the parentsin flower color, leaf size, and leaf shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe. The photographs were taken under diffuse naturallight conditions on an overcast day with electronic flash atapproximately noon in Hinnerup, Denmark.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical potted plant of ‘Rose African’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a topperspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Rose African’, showingthe flowers and foliage.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe following: side and top perspective views of a typical floweringcyme and top perspective views of immature and fully expanded leaves of‘Rose African’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Unpinched plants used in thephotographs and for the following observations and measurements weregrown in Hinnerup, Denmark, under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse for about 12 weeks after the start of short day/long nightphotoperiodic treatment with average temperatures of 20° C.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe laciniata×Kalanchoe blossfeldianacultivar Rose African.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified Kalanchoe Laciniata proprietaryseedling selection, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Mie, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days.

Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright, tall and vigorous plant habit with numerous compoundcymes; freely flowering. Actual plant shape will depend on whether ornot plants are pinched (apical terminals removed). Finished plant sizeis appropriate for one plant per 13-cm container.

Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching (removal of terminal apex)enhances lateral branch development.

Plant height at flowering.—About 38 cm.

Plant diameter at flowering.—About 35 cm.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Size: Mature foliage size is reduced after floral induction. Vegetativeplants: Length: About 20 cm. Width: About 15 cm. Reproductive plants:Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Tri-parted, deeplydissected. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate to truncate. Margin: Parted.Aspect: Slightly concave. Texture: Leathery, glabrous, succulent. Color:Young foliage, upper surface: 137C, glossy. Young foliage, lowersurface: 147B. Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A , glossy. Under highlight or cool temperatures, leaf margins may become darkish red, closeto 187A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single flowers arranged in compound dichasialcymes that arise from leaf axils. Upright flowering stems. Freelyflowering. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—Late autumn/winter/early spring; flowerinitiation and development can be induced under short day/long nightconditions.

Time to flower.—In the summer with 20° C. growing temperatures, about 10weeks of short day/long night conditions are required to produceflowering plants. During the winter with supplemental lighting and 20°C. growing temperatures, about 12 weeks of short day/long nightconditions are required to produce flowering plants. Time to flower isprimarily dependent upon temperature and light intensity.

Flower opening.—First flower open is the terminal flower at the mainaxis and is followed by the opening of the terminal flowers of the sidebranches of the inflorescence. About 1.5 weeks after the first flowerhas opened, 50% of the remaining flowers are open.

Post-production longevity.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe maintain goodleaf and flower substance for at least five weeks under interiorenvironmental conditions.

Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.

Quantity.—Very freely flowering, at least 250 flowers per plant.

Flower buds.—Shape: Narrowly oblong. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About4 mm. Color: 14C.

Petals.—Quantity: Four fused at base. Length: About 9 mm. Shape: Roundobovate. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth andsatiny. Color: Upper surface: 155B; towards base, close to 62C to 57A.Lower surface: 155D.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen number: Eight. Anther shape:Slightly oblong. Filament color: Green. Pollen color: Yellow. Pistils:Pistil number: Four. Style color: Green. Stigma shape: Round. Ovaries:Superior and four-celled. Ovary size: About 8 mm by 2 mm. Ovary color:Light green.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Kalanchoe diseases has not beenobserved on plants of the Kalanchoe grown under commercial greenhouseconditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named‘Rose African’, as illustrated and described.